Hi everyone! My name is Jes Cardello and I live on Long Island with my husband of 15 years and my 9 and 14 year old daughters. I love to read, cook, go for walks, entertain, spend time with my family, and do pilates. I did not take the traditional path to becoming an educator. After twenty years in the hospitality business it was when I was home with my daughters during COVID that I was inspired to become a Special Education teacher. While enrolled in community college I got a job working at a local Developmental Disabilities Institute to gain experience and learned a great deal from my students and co-workers. I continued on to graduate with a degree in Child Studies and a concentration in Psychology from the university that I had first attended 20 years prior! I currently hold initial certification in Birth-6th grade for General Education and Birth-12th for Special Education. When I began my teaching journey I had thought that I wanted to be with the younger population but after student teaching with 5th and 6th grade students I was shocked to realize that this is where I felt I could be most impactful. I am finishing up my first year in a 6th grade probationary position as a Special Education middle school teacher and could not love where I am more! I currently teach two sections of 15:1 Science,  two periods of ICT ELA, and have a resource room. I don't yet know what I will be teaching next year but am excited for the opportunity to continue collaborating with the educators in my building. I hope to enhance my instruction with what I will be learning in my classes. The population that I teach is quite diverse and I have been most successful when I incorporate different forms of media and technology in my lessons. I am excited for this semester and look forward to continuing to enhance and tailor the learning experience for my students.